BALTIMORE, December 17, 2021 – Baltimore Clayworks (BCW) will present three Winter exhibitions from January 8 through February 26, 2022. These offerings are free and open to the public and will kick-off with an artist reception on Saturday, January 8, from 6 to 8pm. Masks and social distancing required. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm.
Teapots IX: Steeped in Creativity & Craftsmanship, will showcase the exceptional range of artistry for this ancient vessel form. The exhibition was juried and curated by Jen Allen, professional studio artist and ceramic educator. “I am honored to be invited to jury this year’s Baltimore Clayworks Teapot exhibition!” said Jen Allen. “Tea is a daily part of my family life and we have a small collection of teapots that are used often: from English Breakfast tea in a brilliant, colorful Sarah Jaeger porcelain teapot, to Pu-erh served in a polished, traditional Yixing teapot. The range of pots one can create is nearly endless, an ancient artform that is both beautiful and utilitarian, giving it a unique and honored place in the homes of billions of people.”
Mary Cloonan, BCW Curator of Exhibitions, said: “Teapots are evocative, they imply hearth and home, cozy days sipping hot elixirs poured from an elegant vessel. They are also a complex challenge for the artist, balancing form and function. Each element compliments the other like a symphony of shape, volume, and ergonomics.”
Exhibiting Artists
Elka Adomowicz, Dyan Akkouche, Jen Allen, Kait Arndt, Osa Atoe, Posey Bacopoulos, Hayne Bayless, Anne Bowen, Samantha Breigel, Wes Brown, Timothy Carr, Horacio Casillas, Cynthia Deitch, Beverly Fetterman, Heidi Frank, Yoshi Fujii, Lisa Guiliani, Eunkyung Han, Jason Hess, Steve Hilton, Mike Jabbur, Catherine Joanny, Shika Joshi, Huey Hyuk Lee, Anne Maraviglia, Taylor Mezo, Michael Poness, Constance Rankin, David Smith, Amy Song, T.R. Steiner, and Mike Tavares, Leathia West and Jean Wrathal
BCW’s Solo gallery will feature an exhibition by Stephen Heywood, whose wood-fired functional wares are influencedby agricultural architecture and rustic signage. Nostalgia combined with a sharp craftsmanship, the works serve as a touchstone for memories and meals.
“My work takes influence from things that are industrial, mechanical and manmade. I often reference architectural structures that have surrounded me throughout my life. These consist of barns, silos, factories and water towers as well as many other structures. Many of these buildings are used for containment and are in essence vessels of function. These buildings, which are often run down and abandoned show with their weathered exterior textures of flaking paint and rusted steel, a course of production and history. In my work I look to their weathered exterior textures for inspiration and ideas on surface treatment. The simple geometric shapes of these structures are often echoed in the main body and various parts of my pieces. Chimneys, windows, vents, smokestacks and piping are integrated in my work as decoratively charged elements of visual interest. Sometimes these elements are incorporated into my work as handles, lids, and spouts. I also incorporate numbers and symbols on my work through the use slip stencils and laser print transfers. These markings give variety and reference the architectural structures that I look to for inspiration. I often leave marks on the form as evidence of the working process. These subtle marks are then accentuated by the atmospheric firing processes of soda and wood and help to give my work the same sense of history and aged qualities that I look to for inspiration.”
The Community Arts Gallery will highlight artwork by CASA of Maryland workshop participants. Christina Marsh, Community Arts & Engagement Manager states, “We are excited to display the tiles painted by multi-generational community members, which will form the foundation for the commissioned and community chosen sculpture by nationally recognized ceramicist George Rodriguez.” The collaboration with CASA is supported by an award from the Gutierrez Memorial fund.
For the latest scheduling announcements related to the Winter Exhibitions or to explore upcoming exhibits and events, follow Baltimore Clayworks on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.
About Baltimore Clayworks
Baltimore Clayworks (BCW) is a nonprofit organization originally founded by nine artists in 1980. Now, more than 40 years later, their mission is to develop, sustain, and promote an artist-centered community that provides outstanding educational, residency, and collaborative programs in the ceramic arts.
BCW’s core values are artist-centeredness, inclusivity, excellence, integrity, and joy. The Baltimore-based center offers classes and workshops for adults and children, hosts short and long-term residencies for emerging artists, presents rotating exhibitions, a retail shop featuring the work of local and internationally recognized ceramicists, and utilizes the universal medium of clay to engage under resourced communities in and around Baltimore City. Learn more at www.baltimoreclayworks.org
Media Contact:
Dina Wasmer, CMO
1-410-366-9479, ext. 101
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